North County NYE at Stone Brewing

With the exception of a handful of restaurants doing special pre-fixe menus and a few hotels offering either a Singles Soiree or a Family Friendly Affair, there's really not much happening in North County in terms of New Year's Eve bashes. Fortunately, Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens is filling the gap, ensuring that NoCo party lovers don't have to trek all the way to the Gaslamp to get their party on. That cab ride is around $130 each way.

Instead of a stodgy sit-down, Stone is setting up food stations throughout not only the restaurant, but also the brewhouse. Between stations and pass-around snacks, you can eat while you mingle. The menu is extensive, and includes oysters, cured salmon, ceviche, braised short ribs, chroizo-stuffed olives, mac'n'cheese, chilled crab claws, lobster spring rolls, pork belly, goat cheese tarts, a "grazing table" with salad, hummus, bread, etc., charcuterie and cheese, and an array of desserts. Your ticket in gets you all the food you want, and three "standard-size servings" of any Stone beer on tap. Emphasis on the "any," because they plan to have some that you can't usually get. There will be 36 beers on tap (including Stone rare vintages and special releases such as Stone's 16th anniversary IPA with Green Tea Leaves, and Sublimely Self-Righteous with Orange Peel & Bitter Chocolate), and more than 120 bottles of brews to choose from.

DJs will be set up for dancing on the mezzanine, while downstairs, live music will be provided by the Soulfires. Everyone inside gets a commemorative glass and champagne for a midnight toast, as well as hats and noisemakers. One thing I like about a venue like this is if it gets too crowded inside, you can roam the acre of gardens, which will be equipped with heaters and "fire rocks" to keep revelers warm.